There are many different parts to the help system, the purpose of this page is to provide an overview of how they fit together.
First time users
Most first time users will find their way into the help system from the links on the main page:
- The 'about wikipedia', 'contact us' and 'help' links on the sidebar visible on each page.
- The 'anyone can edit' link in the banner
Other ways new users might end up on a help page:
- Following a link from a tag e.g. 'Citation needed'
- Following a link from a talk page.
- System messages e.g. login window
Most of the help pages that are directed toward new users have the help header
The Wikipedia:Introduction has four tabs to follow, Introduction/you can edit now, Further editing, Explore Wikipedia and the fourth leading to the tutorial... (No header bar)
The Wikipedia:Tutorial has the header bar and tabs for each of its pages: About Tutorial, editing, formatting, wikilinks, citing, talk pages, policies, create login, and wrap up which points a number of other sources for further information.
Index Pages
Help:Contents is aimed to provide a basic topic based navigation to all areas of the help system. Note it is the first link in the help header bar.
Help:Contents/Site map is a full topic based navigation index, it is linked to at the bottom of help:contents in the line 'See the Site Map for all of the help menus on one page.'
Areas where questions can be asked
General help
Article construction
- Wikipedia:Requests_for_feedback - light
- Wikipedia:Peer_review - medium
- Wikipedia:Featured_article_review - heavy